Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Android XR Headset, Nintendo Switch 2 & AI Video Generation: 2025 Tech Predictions

AI-powered video generation will significantly improve, exceeding current expectations.

### 2024 Waveform Rewind: Year-End Tech Predictions and AI Advancements
* 🗓️ The WVFRM Podcast hosts reviewed 2024, previewed 2025 tech releases, and discussed AI advancements.
* 📱 **Samsung's Galaxy S25 series** and **Project Muhan XR headset** are expected at the January 22nd Unpacked event, potentially featuring **Qi2 wireless charging**.
* 🎮 Leaked renders of the **Nintendo Switch 2** suggest a larger size, additional button, and improved USB-C port, with an official announcement expected before April 2025.
* 🌐 The podcast discussed **Fediverse news**, including Bluesky's account verification challenges and the Bridgy Fed foundation bridging social media protocols.
* 🃏 The hosts shared their experiences opening Pokémon cards from the new expansion, highlighting the rarity of a gold Mew EX card.
* 🤖 Google's **Imagen Video AI model** generated impressive videos, surpassing Sora in realism and physics, showcased through prompts like "a humanoid sponge living inside a pineapple" and "a smartphone reviewer talking about the latest product release".
* 🏒 Imagen Video also created a video of the New Jersey Devils winning the Stanley Cup, demonstrating impressive detail but also some physics inconsistencies.
*  🤔 The podcast concluded with a discussion on the challenges of reviewing AI-generated content and its implications for the creative industries.

### Waveform Rewind 2024: AI Image Generation & Year in Review
* 📅 The video reviews AI-generated videos, starting with three clips depicting a New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup victory celebration, progressively worsening in realism.
* 🏒 The first video shows players with slightly inaccurate team logos, while the second highlights realistic jerseys but poorly rendered background details.
* 🏆 The third video, a parade scene, features numerous flaws despite a seemingly realistic zoomed-out view; details like crowd reactions and bus passenger positioning are unrealistic.
* 🐬  AI image generation tests are then conducted, with a dolphin jumping from a tropical ocean showing impressive underwater reflections but unnatural movement.
* 🐦  A prompt for "a crane looming high above a pristine mountain lake" yields a highly realistic image of a bird, considered "very impressive" and indistinguishable from a nature documentary.
* 🦇 A prompt for "a bat with vampire fangs being held by a child" results in a Play-Doh-like baseball bat with boar tusks, demonstrating the AI's interpretation of the ambiguous prompt.
* 📈  The video concludes with a 2024 review, including **24.5 million views** and **8.8 million watch time hours** on the Waveform channel, highlighting significant growth.
* 🤔 The hosts discuss surprising events of 2024, including the quick decline of interest in the Apple Vision Pro and Google's forced implementation of its generative search experience.

### 2024 Tech Rewind & 2025 Predictions
* 🗓️ The hosts reviewed advancements in **volumetric displays**, differentiating them from traditional holograms and highlighting companies like Voxon and Light Field Labs.
* ⌚️  Apple Watch's software update was deemed minor, contrary to expectations of a major redesign; it mainly featured added tiles and a slightly thinner design.
* 📱 Contrary to predictions, **transparent tech** remained prominent in 2024, alongside less vibrant colors in new devices, although some exceptions like the Rabbit R1 existed.
* 🕹️  2024 saw a surge in retro gaming hardware releases, including new Analog Pocket and Ambernic handhelds, along with the unique "Arms Dealer Game Boy."
* 🤔 The hosts discussed the state of AI wearables, with the Meta Ray-Ban glasses considered the closest to success but still needing improvement to achieve widespread adoption.
* 🔮 Predictions for 2025 included the possibility of a resurgence in "browser wars," driven by antitrust issues and potential new search engines.
* 🗣️ One host boldly predicted that Microsoft would *not* add live translation to any product in 2025, offering a humorous penalty for being proven wrong.
* 🎉  The hosts shared their favorite products of 2024, ranging from the M4 MacBook Pro and Acer Swift RG351P to the Keychron Q65 keyboard and even a Marvel Unlimited subscription.

WTF Happened in 2024? - Waveform Rewind

A tech podcast for the gadget lovers and tech heads among us from the mind of Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD. MKBHD has made a name for himself on YouTube reviewing everything from the newest smartphones to cameras to electric cars. Pulling from over 20 years of experience covering the tech industry, MKBHD and co-hosts Andrew Manganelli and David Imel will keep you informed and entertained as they take a deep dive into the latest and greatest in tech and what deserves your hard earned cash. New episodes every week. Waveform is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.


WVFRM Podcast

Podcast Introduction and Holiday Break Announcement

Hosts introduce themselves and mention wearing ugly Christmas sweaters.

Announce this is their last episode of the year and wish Happy Holidays.

Announce a two-week break for the first time in five years.

Mention discussing end-of-year topics and late 2024/early 2025 news.

Discuss the expected Samsung Unpacked event in January 2025, including the Galaxy S series and XR headset.

Mention leaked details about Samsung's Project Muhan XR headset and its potential preview at Unpacked.

Discuss Samsung's Project Muhan XR headset in relation to Google's Vision Pro and Android XR.

Discuss the history of XR pushes and compare the current situation to past attempts.

Make predictions about the Samsung S25 having Qi2 with magnets.

Discuss alleged renders of the Nintendo Switch 2 from dbrand.

Discuss issues with Bluesky's account verification method using domain names.

Mention Bluesky's consideration of a potential Twitter Blue-like subscription.

Discuss Bridgy Fed, a bridge between ActivityPub and the AT protocol.

Mention the launch of a new Fediverse browser by Flipboard.

Discuss the new Pokémon card expansion and its rarity.

Analysis of Google's Imagen Video AI Model

Announce Google's Imagen Video AI model and compare it to OpenAI's Sora.

Discuss the quality of Imagen Video's generated videos, particularly regarding physics and object permanence.

Show and discuss videos generated using various prompts from the hosts and viewers.

Discuss the implications of AI-generated content and its impact on artists.

Waveform Rewind 2024: Review and Predictions

Recap of the year's activities, including views, watch time, and subscriber growth.

Review of major tech news stories covered in 2024.

Discussion of unexpected events and surprises from 2024.

Review of predictions made in the previous year's episode.

Predictions for 2025, including AI wearables, the browser wars, and Microsoft's live translation.